Canadian rapper Tory Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the shooting of fellow artist Megan Thee Stallion in 2020.
Lanez was found guilty in December 2022 of three felonies related to the incident, which resulted in Megan Thee Stallion sustaining an injured foot.
Prosecutors had initially sought a 13-year prison sentence for the 30-year-old musician.
Conversely, Lanez's defense team had requested probation and a residential drug treatment program to address his alcoholism, which they claimed he developed as a means to cope with childhood trauma.
Since his conviction in December, Lanez has been held in county jail awaiting sentencing.
On Monday, Megan Thee Stallion testified in court about the devastating impact of the shooting.
In a written statement read aloud, she expressed, “Since I was viciously shot by the defendant, I have not experienced a single day of peace.”
She further stated that while she is slowly healing, she will never be the same.
Lanez's attorney, Jose Baez, asserted the rapper's innocence after court proceedings on Monday and emphasized the negative consequences of his incarceration on the non-profit organizations and individuals whom Lanez supports financially.
Baez advocated for a year-long residential treatment program to address Lanez's alcohol addiction issues.
During Tuesday's court session, Lanez spoke for the first time and expressed his care for Megan Thee Stallion.
He revealed that they both bonded over the deaths of their mothers and resorted to using alcohol to numb their shared pain.
The news of Lanez's sentence quickly spread on Twitter, with the hashtag #FreeToryLanez gaining traction among supporters who believe he was unjustly treated by the justice system.
This verdict marks the culmination of a divisive saga that unfolded over several years, primarily on social media platforms, in Lanez's music, and within the hip-hop community.
Lanez's father, Sonstar Peterson, delivered an emotional statement about the impact of Lanez's mother's death when the rapper was just 11 years old.
Peterson stated, “I don't think anybody ever gets over that.
But his music became his outlet.”
Los Angeles county district attorney George Gascón praised Megan Thee Stallion, also known as Megan Pete, for her perseverance throughout the trial, despite facing intense scrutiny and hostility.
Gascón acknowledged that Lanez had engaged in a pattern of behavior intended to intimidate and silence Megan Thee Stallion, emphasizing the fear that often prevents Black women from reporting crimes like assault due to concerns of not being believed.
The shooting incident occurred in July 2020 as Lanez, Megan Thee Stallion, a friend, and Lanez's bodyguard were leaving a party at Kylie Jenner's Hollywood residence.
